7.8 North East Link - Bulleen Park

Council Agenda 26/11/18

Abstract

This report provides an update on the North East Link Authority (NELA) Bulleen Park land use planning project. It seeks Council support for an initial concept design for the Bulleen Park land use plan which incorporates the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and the 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC). See Attachment 1 for an aerial image showing the project study area.

NELA has initiated the study for the Bulleen Park area and has included the BTC and FGC in the project scope. Officers understand the aim of the project is to ensure no sporting club or facility is worse off as a result of the construction and operation of the North East Link (NEL). NELA has advised it intends to finalise the project by early 2019 for inclusion as an appendix in the NEL Environment Effects Statement (EES).

NELA has conducted initial consultation about the project, with a workshop held at the Veneto Club on 8 August 2018. The workshop was attended by sporting clubs impacted by the NEL and Council representatives from Boroondara and Manningham. Officers understand NELA staff have also been meeting with sporting clubs and facility operators on an individual basis to discuss the project.

Within a limited timeframe, Boroondara officers have prepared high-level concept plans for the FGC and BTC to be considered in the Bulleen Park land use planning study (Attachments 2 and 3). The plans respond to the impact of the NEL on several holes of the FGC by relocating the BTC to the same location and extending the FGC to land north of the current course edge located in Manningham. It is relevant to note seven FGC holes are already located on land within the City of Manningham. The concept plans retain both facilities and at least the level of service currently offered by the BTC and FGC.

There is a key difference between the two concept plans. The plan at Attachment 2 includes a sporting oval to the north of the BTC site. This has been included in recognition of the loss of Bulleen Oval 1, currently located within the City of Manningham, which will be displaced by the NEL works. The plan at Attachment 3 incorporates an urban forest in place of the sporting oval to protect and improve the biodiversity values in the area and along the important Koonung Creek and Yarra River corridors.

Officers consider the concept plans provide a good outcome for the Boroondara and broader community. Both the BTC and FGC are very well used by residents of Boroondara, Manningham, Banyule and beyond. Both are quality public facilities and provide important community focussed services for the region, particularly those Councils and residents impacted by the NEL. Officers recommend both concepts be formally put forward to NELA for its consideration in developing a land use plan for Bulleen Park. Further information is included in Confidential Attachment 4. Given their high-level nature, the plans will need further investigation and refinement as part of the planning process NELA is undertaking.

City of Boroondara 683 Council Agenda 26/11/18

It is recognised the land within which the FGC would expand in both concept plans is currently open space within Manningham and is used by the Yarra Bowmen archery club and Doncaster Aeromodellers club. Officers are conscious of the very significant negative impacts of the NEL and have been seeking to work with Manningham and NELA to explore new opportunities for open space within the City of Manningham should the FGC extend into existing Manningham land. In this way, Manningham could potentially deliver more open space than is currently available to its community for sport and recreation, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for the Boroondara and Manningham communities.

The City of Manningham has publically indicated it does not support extension of the FGC north of its current site, as indicated on the Boroondara-prepared concept plans.

Confidential information is contained in Attachments 4 and 5, as circulated in the confidential section of the agenda attachments, in accordance with Section 89(2) of the Local Government Act 1989, as the information relates to proposed developments and premature disclosure of the information could be prejudicial to the interests of Council or other persons. This item has been included in the public agenda to facilitate transparency and accountability in Council’s decision making. If discussion of the confidential information in the attachments to this report is required in order for Council to make a decision, this item will be deferred to the confidential section of the agenda.

City of Boroondara 684 Council Agenda 26/11/18

Officers' recommendation

That Council resolve to:

1. Support the concept design options for the Bulleen Park land use plan as shown in Attachment 2 and Attachment 3 as Council’s preferred options for the Bulleen Park land use planning study incorporating the 23-court Boroondara Tennis Centre and the 18 hole, par 68, Freeway Golf Course.

2. Provide the concept design options to the North East Link Authority for its consideration as part of the Bulleen Park land use project, noting further investigation and refinement will be required to confirm detailed elements of the plans.

3. Notify the following stakeholders in writing of the Council resolution: i. Premier of Victoria; ii. Minister for Roads and Road Safety and the North East Link Project Minister (or equivalent); iii. Minister for Sport (or equivalent); iv. Leader of the Opposition; v. Shadow Minister for Roads and Infrastructure (or equivalent); vi. Shadow Minister for Sport (or equivalent); vii. Manningham City Council Mayor and CEO; viii. Mr. Craig Tiley, CEO Tennis Australia; ix. Mr. Matthew Kennedy, CEO Tennis Victoria; x. Mr. Stephen Pitt, CEO Golf Australia; xi. Mr. Simon Brookhouse, CEO Golf Victoria; xii. Mr. Warren Maher, Director Maher’s Tennis Management Services; xiii. Mr. Sean Gammon, Director Freeway Golf Pro Shop; xiv. Mr. Bruce Bourke and Ms. Barbara Morrison, Presidents Camberwell Golf Club; and xv. Ms. Judith Voce, President Harp Golf Club.

City of Boroondara 685 Council Agenda 26/11/18

Responsible director: Bruce Dobson Environment & Infrastructure ______

1. Purpose

This report has been prepared to:

 Provide an update on the North East Link Authority (NELA) Bulleen Park land use planning project; and  Seek support for concept designs for the Bulleen Park land use plan which incorporate the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and the 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC).

2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan

This report is consistent with the Council Plan 2017-21 and the Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27, in particular the following strategic objectives:

 Community services and facilities are high quality, inclusive and meet a variety of needs now and into the future.  Inviting and well-utilised community parks and green spaces.  Ensure that ethical, financial and socially responsible decision making reflect community needs and are based on principles of accountability, transparency, responsiveness and consultation.

3. Background

Impact of NEL on BTC and FGC

The NEL impacts significantly on the community, including at the Bulleen Road interchange. Project designs show the removal of the BTC, to be replaced by a new park and ride facility, and several holes of the FGC removed. While the BTC and FGC are owned and operated by Boroondara or its contractors, they are both significant quality facilities that are widely used by the broader community well beyond Boroondara itself. Over 50,000 rounds of golf are played each year at FGC. The multi-award winning BTC is one of Melbourne’s premier access tennis facilities available for public use. It was awarded Most Outstanding Tennis Club at the 2017 Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards. Removing the BTC and reducing the size of the FGC would have a detrimental impact on recreation opportunities for the local community, including both Boroondara and Manningham residents.

Bulleen Park land use planning project

NELA has initiated a land use planning study for the Bulleen Park area, including the BTC and FGC. Officers understand the aim of the project is to ensure no sporting club or facility is worse off as a result of the construction and operation of the North East Link (NEL).

NELA hosted an initial community workshop with Council representatives from Boroondara and Manningham and sporting clubs in the precinct on Wednesday 8 August 2018 at the Veneto Club. Officers understand NELA staff have also been meeting with sporting clubs and facility operators on an individual basis to discuss the project.

City of Boroondara 686 Council Agenda 26/11/18

Council officers have met with NELA and Manningham officers, both together and separately, on several occasions to discuss the project. NELA has written to Council requesting a formal Council position about Council facilities that need to be included in the project. NELA has advised it intends to finalise the Bulleen Park land use plan by early 2019 for inclusion as an appendix in the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the NEL.

4. Outline of key issues/options

Boroondara officer concept designs

Prior to the notification by NELA of its intent to undertake the Bulleen Park land use planning project, Council officers, with the assistance of specialist consultants, began developing high-level concept designs to explore how the BTC and FGC facilities and service offerings might be retained for the benefit of the Boroondara and broader community. The concept design work has continued throughout the Bulleen Park land use planning project.

Two iterations of the concept design have been developed. Both concept designs respond to the impact of NEL on several holes of the FGC by repurposing the area for use by the BTC. The FGC is then extended to land north of the current course edge, located in the City of Manningham. It is relevant to note seven FGC holes are already located on land within the City of Manningham. The FGC was previously redesigned when the Eastern Freeway was constructed in the 1970’s and at that time was extended to north of the Koonung Creek, the municipal border.

Given the timing available, the concept plans have necessarily been prepared at a high level. The plans will need further investigation and refinement as part of the planning process NELA is undertaking to confirm detailed elements of the plans.

The first concept plan draft, Attachment 2, considers the introduction of an AFL size oval to assist in off-setting the loss to Manningham of Bulleen Oval 1, impacted by the NEL. There may however be some challenges with the ability to fit an appropriately sized oval and infrastructure in that location, along with possible tree loss and environmental impacts associated with its proximity to the creek. These issues could be further investigated as design work progresses. The second concept plan, Attachment 3, incorporates an urban forest area to protect and improve the biodiversity values in the area and along the important Koonung Creek and Yarra River corridors. This concept has significant environmental benefits.

Pacific Coast Design (PCD), an experienced golf design company with extensive knowledge and understanding of the FGC, has assisted with the golf course concept design. The design includes a community walking track through the golf course, along with fitness and environmental stations throughout.

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Both designs include the following core elements:  A 23-court BTC on area currently occupied by the FGC.  A good quality, playable and viable 18-hole FGC.  A central clubhouse building for use by the golf and tennis management and retail components of the facilities, as well as a café and other uses as required.  An access road from the north through Bulleen Park to remove the need for BTC and FGC traffic to use the local streets on the south side of the Eastern Freeway to access the precinct.

In addition to accommodating the needs of the City of Boroondara, the concept designs meet the needs of the 100,000 plus users of and visitors to the FGC and BTC. Both facilities are public facilities and are open to all golf and tennis players for use. That is, no one club has exclusive access rights to either facility. The ancillary services provided at the facilities, cafés, pro-shops, physiotherapy, child care and massage, are open to all as well.

Many BTC and FGC users and visitors are from the City of Manningham and municipalities other than Boroondara, as are the staff at each facility. The FGC and BTC are significant, specialist employers in the area.

The wide-reaching community benefit in retaining both facilities is significant for Boroondara and for the wider region, including Manningham and Banyule Councils.

Officers recommend both concepts be formally put forward to NELA for its consideration in developing a land use plan for Bulleen Park. Further information is included in Confidential Attachments 4 and 5.

Wider impacts

The concept designs would see the FGC extend into Bulleen Park to occupy land currently used by the Yarra Bowmen archery club and Doncaster Aeromodellers club. While the concept designs do not in themselves provide alternative homes for these two clubs, it is understood there are land parcels within Manningham in public ownership nearby that may be suitable alternative homes. If any nearby land parcel in public ownership is considered to be a realistic and viable alternative home, the purchase for and occupation by the archers and the aeromodellers, as well as for general recreation purposes, should be pursued by NELA as part of the Bulleen Park land use planning project.

Officers are conscious of the very significant negative impacts of the NEL and have been seeking to work with Manningham and NELA to explore new opportunities for open space within the City of Manningham should the golf course extend into existing Manningham land. In this way, Manningham could potentially deliver more open space than is currently available to its community for sport and recreation, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for the Boroondara and Manningham communities.

Manningham Council position

The City of Manningham has indicated it does not support the extension of the FGC further north than its current site, as reflected in the Bulleen Park concept plans which are the subject of this report. Officers are continuing to work with

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Manningham Council officers on various aspects of the NEL project and will continue to seek the best outcome for the community as a whole.

5. Consultation/communication

NELA has engaged with Boroondara and Manningham Council officers through the initial development of the Bulleen Park land use planning project. This engagement has enabled Council officers to share ideas, issues, concerns and potential solutions with NELA and Manningham project officers.

Boroondara officers have discussed the elements reflected in the concept plans with NELA and Manningham Council officers in seeking to explore a solution that can best serve the community, given the significant impacts arising from the NEL project. The concept plans are consistent with Boroondara Council’s position that the BTC and FGC should continue to exist in their current capacity.

6. Financial and resource implications

There are limited direct financial and resource implications to Council associated with this report. As NELA has initiated the project, it is expected NELA will continue to fund the works and community consultation associated with the Bulleen Park Land Use Planning project. Further, it is expected NELA will fund costs associated with implementation of the concept plan as part of the NEL project works.

7. Governance issues

The implications of this report have been assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

The officers responsible for this report have no direct or indirect interests requiring disclosure.

8. Social and environmental issues

The social, community and environmental outcomes associated with the concept designs are generally positive. The inclusion of an urban forest area in the second design has particular biodiversity benefits. The concept designs retain important sporting facilities as good quality, playable and viable facilities for the Boroondara and wider community, including a significant number of Manningham residents.

Should the key elements of the concept design be approved and accepted by NELA, the BTC will remain in Boroondara, as a 23-court public facility, and the FGC will remain as a good quality, viable and playable 18-hole public golf course. The provision of leisure facilities such as the BTC and FGC plays an important role in improving and maintaining the health and wellbeing of the Boroondara and broader community.

Manager: Jim Hondrakis, Traffic &Transport

Report officer: Clare Davey, Senior Coordinator Transport Advocacy

City of Boroondara 689 Council Agenda 26/11/18 Municipal boundary Bulleen Park land use planning study area

Municipal boundary

North

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.8.1 690 Council Agenda 26/11/18

+2/( 3$5 /(1*7++2/( 3$5 /(1*7+

727$/ 0HWUHV

AFL OVAL

ARCHERY AFL OVAL CLUB

TRAINING ZONE

2x JUNIOR SOCCER

PYLON FS FS

11 15

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Sports Oval

ES P

Lake /

Car park 6 10

Urban ForestES /

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/ 2 / PACIFIC COAST DESIGN / WWW.GOLF-DESIGNERS.COM

Maintenance /

/ / NORTHNorth East Link EAST - Bulleen LINK Park OPENland use plan SPACE / ConceptCONCEPT Design 1 2 - ZONE A

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.8.2 691 Council Agenda 26/11/18

AFL OVAL

TRAINING ZONE

2x JUNIOR SOCCER

FS FS

11 ES 15

Urban Forest

Urban Forest ES

FS ES P

Car park Lake

6 10 ES

Urban Forest

4 Tennis Courts (23) FS

Car park 5 ES

Car park

HUB Car park 16

9 PP TOILET

8 1

Maintenance

PACIFIC COAST DESIGN NORTHNorth East Link EAST - Bulleen LINK Park OPENland use plan SPACE WWW.GOLF-DESIGNERS.COM ConceptCONCEPT Design 2 3 - ZONE A

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.8.3 692